north·ern
ˈnȯr-t͟hərn 
ˈnȯr-t͟hən
1
capitalized
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated North
b
: of, relating to, or constituting the northern dialect
2
a
: lying toward the north
b
: coming from the north
a northern storm
1
Examples of northern in a Sentence
Adjective
the northern part of the state
Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
Caballero, who grew up between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, just over the Mexican border, builds his menu on a foundation of northern Mexican ingredients and techniques—green chilis, flour tortillas, plenty of cheese.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024
Boko Haram has waged a 15-year insurgency battle in northern Nigeria and has kidnapped thousands of people in that time.
—Stephanie Busari, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
This nonnative songbird originates from Eurasia and northern Africa and was first released in the U.S> in 1841.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2024
In Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, guests at Anantara’s Jungle Bubble Lodge can spend the night in the company of elephants.
—Tanvi Chheda, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024
The Duke of Sussex, 39, stepped out on April 10 to attend the coaching and mental health platform’s two-day conference in northern California, a few hours from his Montecito home.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Khorasan refers to an ancient region that encompassed parts of present day Iran, Turkmenistan, and northern Afghanistan.
—Fatema Hosseini, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The center predicts Indianapolis skies will be 60% covered with clouds during the eclipse, with northern Indiana seeing more clouds than the southern portion of the state.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Tony Kennedy, Star Tribune, 25 Mar. 2021
Most puffers have very tiny mouths, and northerns are no exception.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 23 Aug. 2023
Walleyes or northerns were the target for the Governor's Fishing Opener The water temperature was 48 degrees and the walleyes, Wisconsin's favorite game fish, would likely be at the tail end of their spawning period or just after it.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2023
Carey thought trolling would be the best way to cover water and find some active fish, likely walleyes or northerns.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2023
One northern was chunky and offered a good fight, and the walleyes would contribute to a feast Mike planned that evening for visiting cousins, who before dinner would splash into Cross Lake to cool off and afterward would watch the sun set below the distant pines.
—Star Tribune, 22 July 2021
Resources The highest rates of botulism in the United States occur in our northern-most state Alaska, and is attributed to changing methods of fermenting meat and the loss of indigenous culinary knowledge among Native Alaskans.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2013
Bartz, who has fished for many decades in the best waters of Wisconsin and Ontario, caught the biggest walleye and northern of his life on Seseganaga.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 13 June 2022
My turn was next, with a 21-inch northern on the same type of lure.
—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2022
Adjective
In the Presidio, a park at the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, 75 clones of near-extinct redwoods are growing.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
Caballero, who grew up between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, just over the Mexican border, builds his menu on a foundation of northern Mexican ingredients and techniques—green chilis, flour tortillas, plenty of cheese.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024
Boko Haram has waged a 15-year insurgency battle in northern Nigeria and has kidnapped thousands of people in that time.
—Stephanie Busari, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
This nonnative songbird originates from Eurasia and northern Africa and was first released in the U.S> in 1841.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2024
In Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, guests at Anantara’s Jungle Bubble Lodge can spend the night in the company of elephants.
—Tanvi Chheda, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024
The Duke of Sussex, 39, stepped out on April 10 to attend the coaching and mental health platform’s two-day conference in northern California, a few hours from his Montecito home.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Khorasan refers to an ancient region that encompassed parts of present day Iran, Turkmenistan, and northern Afghanistan.
—Fatema Hosseini, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The center predicts Indianapolis skies will be 60% covered with clouds during the eclipse, with northern Indiana seeing more clouds than the southern portion of the state.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
For northern pike, the DNR hopes to foster large sizes by disallowing anyone from keeping a northern that exceeds 30 inches.
—Tony Kennedy, Star Tribune, 25 Mar. 2021
Most puffers have very tiny mouths, and northerns are no exception.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 23 Aug. 2023
Walleyes or northerns were the target for the Governor's Fishing Opener The water temperature was 48 degrees and the walleyes, Wisconsin's favorite game fish, would likely be at the tail end of their spawning period or just after it.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2023
Carey thought trolling would be the best way to cover water and find some active fish, likely walleyes or northerns.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2023
One northern was chunky and offered a good fight, and the walleyes would contribute to a feast Mike planned that evening for visiting cousins, who before dinner would splash into Cross Lake to cool off and afterward would watch the sun set below the distant pines.
—Star Tribune, 22 July 2021
Resources The highest rates of botulism in the United States occur in our northern-most state Alaska, and is attributed to changing methods of fermenting meat and the loss of indigenous culinary knowledge among Native Alaskans.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2013
Bartz, who has fished for many decades in the best waters of Wisconsin and Ontario, caught the biggest walleye and northern of his life on Seseganaga.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 13 June 2022
My turn was next, with a 21-inch northern on the same type of lure.
—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'northern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near northern
Cite this Entry
“Northern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northern. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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